On December 11, 1931, a Charter was issued by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants for the formation of a Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Minnesota. The organizing meeting was convened on March 9, 1932, at the Minnesota Club in St. Paul by George Perkins Douglas, who was elected first Governor.

In the first years of the Minnesota Society, the membership was largely composed of the socially prominent and wealthy industrial and political families of the area. In fact, in the early years, the meetings of the Board of Assistants were hosted by the Governor at his own expense with luncheon meetings at various country clubs in the Twin Cities. The Annual Meetings were formal balls or “black tie” dinners. These factors tended to discourage the economic middle class until the end of World War II, when membership began to grow.

Today, the Minnesota Society has lost all class consciousness and formality has given way to fellowship of people aspiring to learn more about the Pilgrims and to educate others about the beliefs and goals of their Pilgrim ancestors.